The Office of Papal Charities (Elemosineria Apostolica) is the body of the Holy See that provides charity to the poor in the name of the Pope both in Italy and abroad.

The Almoner of His Holiness is The Most Reverend Konrad KRAJEWSKI. Since the time of Pope Leo XIII, the Almoner grants the Apostolic Blessing by parchment certificate as a means of helping to fund the charitable works carried out by the Office.

The Parchment Office of the Office of Papal Charities is the office used to request Papal Blessings for a special event, such as a marriage, a baptism or an anniversary.

The Papal Blessing is a certificate that can be printed on parchments of various size and with ornamental decoration. It can be requested:

  • by post from the following postal address:
    Elemosineria Apostolica
    Parchment Office
    00120 Vatican City
  • via fax: + 39 06 69883132

  • from the Office in Vatican City: The Office of Papal Charities within Vatican City can be visited by entering the Saint Ann Gate (Legend Map nr. 45) from Monday to Saturday during office hours: 9:00 – 12:30

Requests made by telephone or e-mail are not admitted.

In your request, please provide:

  • the name and address of the person making the request
  • the names of the recipients of the Blessing
  • the event or occasion for which it is requested
  • the details regarding the event itself (date, place, etc.)
  • the address to which the parchment is to be mailed together with the payment details (for the cost of preparing and mailing the parchment in a tube or stiff envelope)

The request should be supplemented, for some specific occasions, with a “nihil obstat” (a letter of no impediment) from your Parish priest or other ecclesiastical authority.

The Apostolic Blessing is free of charge. The only amount due will be between €25 and €40 and includes the cost of the parchment (chosen by the Office for the particular occasion) and packaging and postage fees. This income, like all other income, is given back by the Elemosineria as charity.

You can receive the parchment approximately one or two months after the date the request is received.

For further information:
Tel:+39 06 69873279 (from 8:00 am to 1:30pm CET – Central European Time)

To download the request form for Papal Blessing Parchments:
Information about Papal Blessing Parchments

See also:
Elemosineria Apostolica